Album review: Hello Hurricane - Switchfoot

Switchfoot's number 7 and they have surpassed their previous work in my opinion. Bear in mind, their previous work is fantastic too, just this album is extremely consistent, every song being powerful in connecting with the mess of humanity. It also maintains the high standard of poetry in their lyrics, and is probably their best produced album. As usual, Switchfoot are honest and authentic, reaching deep into the meaning of our lives, our purpose, our mess and our freedom.

The record starts with a high-energy anthem, Needle And Haystack Life which, while embracing the messy honesty of life - "You breathe it in, the highs and lows, we call it living", also points upwards to the ultimate certainty behind it all - "In this needle and haystack life, I've found miracles there in Your eyes". Despite the title track, this song could be seen to sum up the themes of this album and much of Switchfoot's work. Then we have Mess Of Me and Your Love Is A Song, bringing out the darks and the lights. It's been said that in this album, the brights are brighter and the darks are darker than in their previous work.

The Sound is a brilliant track pulsing with passion and energy. It is a cry of desperation, resembling Lonely Nation from Nothing Is Sound, but with more rawness and vigour. The next track Enough To Let Me Go is a wonderful ballad about relationships. John Foreman puts it brilliantly: "...this song is about the dance involved in a relationship the coming together and letting go. The song equates love with breathing - pulling in and releasing", and explains the danger of treating love as consumption. The title track, Hello Hurricane, is another soaring anthem about resilience during life's trials. It reminds me of Jesus' parable of the wise man who builds his house on the rock, so that when the stormy weather comes his house remains.

Always is a beautiful song about a human life from the perspective of a father, probably from God the Father. It is incredibly moving, singing of human vulnerability, but reminding us that "I am always yours". Bullet Soul is another high-energy rocker oozing with life, asking of those who are innovative and creative, "Are you ready to go?". Brilliant!

The last two tracks on the album are a journey in themselves. Sing It Out could easily be a Psalm of David, with all its darkness and desperation - "I'm on the run, I'm on the ropes this time". It describes clinging on to God and singing out despite feeling hopeless. The end trails off with a beautiful string section playing, after which begins the light and dreamy yet surreal start to Red Eyes. In fact the whole song is quite surreal, especially at the end which includes an experimental mix of echoey vocals and drums. The song is about hope for the future in the midst of our broken culture.

Musically, this album is superb - each song is perfectly crafted for its purpose, and Jon Foreman's vocals really shine like never before. The wonderfully varied textures created in Red Eyes, the energy and depth of Needle And Haystack Life and the use of strings in Sing It Out all show a Switchfoot who has not at all run out of ideas but is growing, refining, and keeping the passion and ingenuity alive.

10/10